Making Your Dreams a Reality: Risk, Passion, and DJ’s Story S11Ep1
Making Your Dreams a Reality
Show Notes & Resources: I have compiled these notes to help you understand the risks and rewards of pursuing your passion, featuring live guest DJ from the AFE Society.
In this season premiere, we look at what is stopping you from pursuing your dreams. We are joined by DJ, who shares his journey from Texas to Stanford University. We discuss the reality of the audio engineering world and the psychological hurdles of starting something new. This episode is about taking the initiative and moving past the fear of failure.
Director’s Note: Happiness is not the absence of problems. It is solving the problems you actually want to be solving. Watch the video and audio below.
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Key Takeaways
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Episode Key Points
Our guest DJ shares his incredible journey of applying to Stanford on a long shot and getting in. While he initially tried Electrical Engineering for the money, he quickly realized his passion was in Audio Engineering. This highlights a vital lesson for anyone working for themselves: you must find the thing that captures your attention and allows you to “get lost in the editing.”
We discuss the “Fail Quickly” mentality. Many people spend too much money on training and courses before they even know if they like the day to day work. DJ explains how he started his financial coaching without a specific degree, simply by opening a Calendly link and helping people. This allowed him to learn about his passion for free before investing heavily in the business.
Sovereignty and Success:
- The Most Interesting Person: You do not have to be the richest person in the room to be the most successful. Knowledge and stories are their own currency.
- Experimentation: Run your experiments at a young age or when you have little responsibility.
- Surround Yourself: The people you are around matter more than the money math. Mentors and a solid team are how you get where you want to go.
- Purpose Driven: When you feel you are on a mission, it is much easier to pick yourself up after a dark day.
Case Solved: Wealth is ownership and peace of mind. DJ’s work with the AFE Society shows that helping others is the ultimate next step once you have achieved your own goals.
Sovereignty Toolbag
Resources from today’s guest:
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The AFE Society: Financial empowerment and coaching resources.
Source: Advancement of Financial Empowerment -
Travel Hacking: Learn how DJ uses credit card points to travel the world for free.
Source: Zulf Talks Season 11
Start Your Experiment
Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Start your journey today by running small, cheap experiments to find your passion.
Access the 3-Step Journey →Episode Chapters
0:33 – Introducing DJ: Stanford and Audio Engineering
2:38 – Moving to California: Taking the long shot
4:34 – The Engineering Pivot: Knowing when you are out of your league
5:11 – The Biggest Risk: Living without stories
6:41 – Perception of Wealth: The richest vs. most interesting person
8:03 – Failure vs. Passion: Running fast experiments
9:16 – The Finance of Failure: Hedging your bets
11:11 – Learning by Doing: The Calendly method
12:21 – The 100 Million Dollar Question: Finding your true path
13:30 – The Power of People: Surrounding yourself with mentors
15:12 – Happiness is Solving Problems: Finding your accounting
18:14 – Pivotal Moments: Southwest Airlines and Global Tours
24:13 – The AFE Society: Financial empowerment for free